WASHINGTON – Washington Police Department officers have been busy responding to multiple complaints of vehicle break-ins.
Most of the incidents occurred on the east side of town.
A Washington Police officer on foot patrol early Thursday morning arrested a Brownstown man found lying between two parked cars with stolen items around him.
The incident happened around Grand Avenue and Northeast 15th Street where numerous vehicles have been broken into.
Police arrested 24-year-old Jeffrey Powell on charges of burglary, theft, and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle.
Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance. If anyone has security cameras officers are asking residents to check them and if they captured any suspicious activity contact Officer Guzman at 812-254-8242.
While there’s no way to 100% deter these kinds of thieves, there are some common-sense steps you can take to make your vehicle a much less appealing target, according to police. Above all, thieves look for opportunities. Make them “work” for their pilfered prizes, and they’ll most likely just forget it and move on to an easier target.
So before you get out of your car, make sure your valuables are out of sight. Never leave these things lying out on your seats, dashboard, or floor:
- Phone
- Purse or wallet
- Laptop (or its bag)
- A briefcase or backpack
- Shopping bags
- An MP3 player or other small electronics
- CDs if you still use them
- Cash – yes, even loose change/coins
- Your keys – it actually happens
Most thieves go solo. The last thing they want is a crowd of onlookers with cell phones and pepper spray ready. So try to keep your car highly visible:
- Park near other people. Go for busy lots where there’s plenty of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
- If you’ll be away from your car after dark, park in a well-lit area or near a lamppost.
- Choose a lot with an attendant over one without.
Thieves are also lazy. With car break-ins, they’re usually not looking for a huge payoff. What this type of thief wants is a quick thrill – or maybe a little extra revenue – for as little work as possible. By making your car a harder target for these people, you make it less desirable. So:
- Always lock your doors and roll up your windows when you park.
- Activate your security system if you have one.
- Consider window tinting (if permitted by local laws), since it makes casing your car more difficult.
- Use after-market measures, like mechanisms that lock the steering wheel to protect your car and alert thieves that you’ve taken extra security measures.
- Don’t use the console or glove box as mobile lock boxes. These are obvious to thieves, too.
- Don’t hand them the keys
